captive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You’re captive at the festival and you can’t bring food in with you.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

In an interview, Det Supt Ian Fletcher, from Gloucestershire Police, said Wixon had managed to keep K captive so long because she was "very, very manipulative" towards her own family.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

The pair believed to be nesting in Yurok country were captive born and released in 2022, as part of the first group reintroduced in that region.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

For decades, great cities benefited from a relatively captive tax base.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

My arms have grown wings and I’m almost afraid of going up into the sky, as though I held a couple of captive balloons in my fists.

From "All Quiet on the Western Front: A Novel" by Erich Maria Remarque